Box Score

Waukesha, WI - Carroll University scored early and jumped out to a big lead to defeat the visiting Prairie Fire 5-2 to kick off Midwest Conference play for both teams on Saturday.

The Pioneers (2-5-1, 1-0 MWC) took a 1-0 lead 2:02 into the contest on a goal by Jordan Wickman.  The lead grew to 3-0 at the intermission following a pair of scores by Dan Czernicki -- his first at 16:17 and the second at 28:27 -- en route to a three-goal afternoon.

Wickman scored his second goal at 56:25 to make it 4-0.  The Prairie Fire (1-6, 0-1 MWC) responded when sophomore Maxwell Gatyas (Plymouth, WI, Plymouth High School) scored on a penalty kick at the 63:06 mark to cut the Pioneer lead to 4-1.

Czernicki got his third shot past Knox sophomore goalie Franz Huebner (Heredia, Costa Rica, Lincoln School) at 69:01 to finish off the scoring for Carroll.

Gatyas added his second goal, unassisted, at 78:27 to account for the final score.

The loss was the fifth in a row for Knox, which snapped a string of two straight defeats by shutout.

Carroll outshot the Prairie Fire 12-5 overall and 10-5 on goal.  Huebner made five saves in the net for Knox.

The Prairie Fire resumes Midwest Conference play October 2 at home against Beloit College (2-4-1, 1-0 MWC).  The match is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m.

Follow Prairie Fire athletics on Twitter at KnoxPrairieFire